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Why nitrogen is not a inert gas?

Updated: 9/17/2023
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14y ago

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The reason why nitrogen isn't inert is due to the layout of electrons around the nucleus. the electrons are found in layers/shells. For all elements except the noble gases the outer most shell is incomplete. Having a complete outer shell is the most stable any atom will get as it requires massive quantities of energy to remove them. The noble gases have full outer shells and this is why they are inert. All the other elements try to achieve this state. I will use nitrogen as an example. Nitrogen has 5 electrons in its outer most shell. The closest noble gas is Neon with 8 electrons in its outer shell. For nitrogen to achieve a full outer shell it needs 3 more electrons which it will find through bonding to other elements.

Basically put nitrogen isn't inert because it will react with other elements to try and achieve a full outer shell of 8 electrons.

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Q: Why nitrogen is not a inert gas?
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Is liquid nitrogen combustable?

No, nitrogen, whether solid, liquid, or gas, is relatively inert.


What is the lightest inert?

Helium is the lightest inert gas. It is a monatomic gas with an average atomic weight of about 4. The only atom lighter than that is hydrogen - which forms a diatomic gas with molecular wight of about 2 - BUT - it is anything but inert! Hydrogen is highly flammable and a commonly used reactant for a lot of syntheses. The next lightest gas that is sort of inert is nitrogen - which is quite a bit heavier - at a molecular weight of about 14. (Nitrogen is not particularly reactive at room temperature so it is often used as an "inert" gas - even though it isn't really totally inert.) The next lightest noble gas is Neon - which, although it forms a monatomic gas, has an atomic wight of about 20 - even heavier than Nitrogen.


Why nitrogen gas is inert at room temperature?

The reason why nitrogen gas is inert at room temperature is because the triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms in each nitrogen molecule (N2) is very strong, and therefore it takes a lot of energy to break that bond, and until that bond is broken, the nitrogen cannot react with any other chemical.


Can nitrogen react to gas?

nitrogen is one of the inert gases not completely inert like He;Ne... hence nitrogen remains stable to most of the gases. however in case of extreme conditions like high temperature or pressure, catalyst presence it may react.


Why nitrogen gas is so unreactive?

There are very strong triple covalent bonds between the two nitrogen atoms in diatomic N2 gas. Large amount of energy is needed to overcome this bond, thus nitrogen is fairly inert and unreactive.

Related questions

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Nitrogen is an . gas?

Nitrogen is an Inert gas, but can be found in other states of matter.


What is the Inert gas found in atmosphere?

Nitrogen


Is radon the most inert gas in the atmoshere?

The most inert gas in the atmoshere is nitrogen; the most noble gas is argon.


What is a sentence with the word inert?

Nitrogen is an inert gas; it is non-reactive in chemical situations.


What gas is put in the tires of racing car?

Nitrogen, because it is an inert gas.


Which gas is not help in burning?

Nitrogen, the commonest gas in our atmosphere.


Is nitrogen the inert gas to make big city lights?

Nitrogen is not used in lamps.


Is liquid nitrogen combustable?

No, nitrogen, whether solid, liquid, or gas, is relatively inert.


If you touch Nitrogen Gas what will happen?

Nothing will happen, nitrogen gas is inert and non toxic, 78% of the air we live in and breath is nitrogen.


What is colorless odorless inert gas and has 2 electrons.?

nitrogen


What can you say about nitrogen?

it is inert, our air contains nitrogen more than any other gas